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SUR-13 gang members nabbed under RICO Act going to prison
Six to testify against others in SUR-13
By Missy Diaz | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
July 26, 2008
In the past two weeks, sixmembers of the violent SUR-13 gang have reached plea agreements that will keep them behind bars between seven and 12 years, and require them to testify against fellow gang members.

On Friday, Enrique Medrano, 21, pleaded guilty to racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering and was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by another 10 years on probation.

His brother, Dennis Medrano, 20, pleaded guilty to racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and cocaine possession later on Friday. He received a 12-year prison term followed by 10 years of probation.

As with all the gang members, truthful testimony against their co-defendants is a requirement of the plea agreements.



In December, a statewide grand jury seated in Palm Beach County indicted 10 members of SUR-13, a gang that originated in Southern California and answers to a prison gang known as the Mexican Mafia.

This faction of SUR-13 terrorized the Westgate neighborhood west of West Palm Beach, investigators said. Among other crimes, prosecutors charged the men with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act — known as the RICO Act — which has traditionally been used to target the mafia. State and federal racketeering laws allow for extended penalties for criminal acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization.

On Tuesday, Hugo Gonzales, 19, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and attempted first-degree murder. He will serve nine years in prison for being the driver in a drive-by shooting that missed the intended target, a member of rival gang 561 Boyz, and hit an innocent man working on his car in his driveway.

Also last week:

Efran Ortiz, 25, received a seven-year sentence for arson, racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. He intentionally set fire to the home of a man who stood up to the SUR-13 gang.

Alexis Medrano pleaded guilty to racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, selling cocaine, fleeing and eluding an officer, battery on a law enforcement officer and gang-related battery. Medrano also participated in the drive-by shooting as well as the murder of a member of the rival gang Winos 13, prosecutors said. He will serve seven years in prison.

Carlos Martinez will serve eight years for racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. He provided multiple firearms to gang members to be used in drive-by shootings and murders.

Charges are pending against several other SUR-13 members, including Ernesto Campos, the group's leader who is in the United States illegally.

Missy Diaz can be reached at mdiaz@sun-sentinel.com or 561-228-5505.